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Valves, Gates, and Airlocks Spotlight - November 09

Diverter Valves
These heavy-duty diverter valves are an effective method for directing flow from a single source to multiple destinations. They are used in a variety of applications, including recycling, seed, grain, woodworking, steel, mining, aggregate, biofuels, food processing, pet food, ethanol, agricultural, chemical processing, paper scrap, and fiberglass. Standard features include 10 ga construction, three types of seals (rubber on metal, urethane on metal, and metal on metal), locking quadrant, heavy-duty flange bearings, bolt on completely removable top and side access doors, and totally smooth interior with no rough edges. Imperial Systems Inc., Jackson Center, PA 800-918-3013 www.isystemsweb.com

Iris Valve
The Vortex iris valve controls the gravity discharge of free-flowing materials from bins, bulk bags, chutes, and hoppers. Patented design features include a stainless-steel control ring with metal trigger locks and handles, which eliminates plastic components that can easily break during actuation. The valve can be applied to control, shutoff, or meter material flow of non-abrasive to moderately abrasive powder, granules, or pellets in gravity flow applications, and are available in 4- to 18-in. sizes.Vortex Valves North America, Salina, KS 785-825-7177 www.vortexvalves.com

Rotary Airlock Valves
Three types of heavy-duty rotary airlocks are available: drop thru, blow thru, and side entry. All units come standard with regreasable bearings, helical gearboxes, predrilled body vents, and predrilled air purge connections. These valves are rated up to 20 psi pressure differentials and are available for temperatures in excess of 1000°F. All units feature large rotor shafts with thick beveled blades as standard. A variety of options are available.Carolina Conveying Inc., Canton, NC 828-235-1005 www.carolinaconveying.com

Stainless-Steel Butterfly Valve
The Series 486 inflatable seated butterfly valve features a fully machined Type 316L stainless-steel housing. The single piece disk and shaft is available in a number of materials including Type 316L stainless steel and Hastelloy. The disk may be polished to a mirror finish or coated with PTFE, nylon, or other high-performance coating. The stainless-steel valve is ideal for powders, granules, and slurries and is available in sizes from 2 to 20 in. Typical applications include loading and unloading of process material, sterile air control, and outlet valves for storage containers or hoppers. The inflatable seat design provides a tight seal by utilizing air pressure to expand the seat against the disk, providing more sealing area and an even pressure distribution against the disk every time. Posi-flate, St. Paul, MN 651-484-5800 www.posiflate.com

Rotary Airlock
The Type 6 airlock is constructed to withstand the most abrasive of materials. Built with rugged NiHard steel, a closed-end rotor constructed of carbon steel, and Stellite on wear surfaces, the airlock can handle the toughest materials. Features include: abrasion-resistant design; a cylinder constructed of cast NiHard; outboard bearings with three polyurethane u-cup packing rings per side; chain and sprocket drive with guard; and black neoprene open cell sponge rubber flange gaskets.Smoot, a div. of Magnum Systems, Kansas City, KS 800-748-7000 www.magnumsystems.com

Custom Airlocks
These rugged airlocks are available in customized fabricated and machined models for pneumatic systems, gravity feeds, and volumetric discharge devices. Fabricated models handle dust collection, plastics, feeds, and corrosive chemicals where pressure differentials are 20 in. of water column or less. Urethane wipers provide a tight fit between fabricated rotors and housings. Machined airlocks have cast housings for added durability and are designed for higher pressures as well as difficult and abrasive materials. Rotor to housing fit is a tight 0.004 to 0.006 of an inch. Both models offer carbon and stainless-steel rotor and housing options. Airlanco, Falls City, NE 800-500-9777 www.airlanco.com

Rotary Valve
The Maximum-Duty (MD) Aerolock rotary valve is engineered for heavy to severe industrial service with pressure differentials up to 1.4 bar (20 psi) and temperatures of 250°F. The unit is designed to withstand severe shock loads and elevated temperatures consistent with continuous 24-hour use. The MD is commonly used with some of the most challenging materials including minerals, chemicals, fillers, food ingredients, filled pellets, PVC compound, and diatomaceous earth. The unit has a 10-blade rotor that maintains a minimum three-blade labyrinth seal to minimize air leakage. The 10-blade rotor is available with flat or relieved tips in several rotor choices including open-ended, hubbed, reduced displacement, and staggered pocket. The MD utilizes two tapered roller bearings on both the thrust and drive sides. Materials of construction include carbon and stainless steel with multiple coating options.K-Tron Process Group/K-Tron Premier, Salina, KS 785-825-1611 www.ktronprocessgroup.com

Rotary Airlock Feeder
The Dust Collector Series (DCS) rotary airlock feeder is suited for general use under dust collectors, cyclones, and hoppers. It features eight-blade rotors, precision machining, and rugged cast iron housing for efficient operation. In a case where pressure differential exists, such as when feeding pneumatic conveying lines, the Heavy-Duty Series is best suited for feeding the material accordingly. These particular airlocks maintain the highest level of performance for an extended period of time. The Quick-Take-Apart Series (QTA) is made for applications where frequent removal of the valve internals is required. This valve permits tool-less removal of the rotor and end plate as one piece, eliminating the time-consuming step of “gapping” the rotor during re-assembly. When encountering alumina, coke, fly ash, glass frit, and other highly abrasive products, the Ceramic Series is ideal. Prater-Sterling, Bolingbrook, IL 630-759-9595 www.prater-sterling.com

Rotary Valve
The Britton Procol rotary valve transfers dry granular solids and powders in gravity, pressure, or vacuum systems. The standard model is a heavy-duty cast design with stiffening ribs to prevent distortion and includes integral shear planes in the inlet to reduce product shearing loads. The rotor includes a heavy-duty shaft to withstand high differential pressures. Rotor designs include open end-fixed blade, closed end-fixed blade, adjustable tipped blades, reduced pocket, and scalloped pocket. Rotors are supported in sealed ball bearings out rigged from the valve end plates to prevent contamination. Other models include a direct drive unit for dust collection applications, blow through valves for insertion in a conveying line and special designed fabricated valves.SMS International Inc., Cortland, IL 800-296-1149 www.smsint.com

Quick Take Apart Feeder
The Quick Clean Feeder can be disassembled and reassembled in less than two minutes. It is used for pneumatic conveying and bulk material handling applications and is available in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty models with square or round flanges. The quick clean feeder is available in the CI, MD, DR-S, AF feeder, and S-Pellet feeder valves. The valve handles pressure differentials up to 15 psi and can be constructed of cast iron or stainless steel. It is available in sizes from 4 to 16 in., features a rugged heavy-duty housing, and has precision-machined internal surfaces that form an effective seal.ACS Valves, Caledonia, ON, Canada 905-765-2004 www.acsvalves.com